8.3 Designated Managers |
Designated Managers are managers who have delegated authority to approve certain decisions or who must be notified in certain circumstances.
This chapter will be reviewed at a future manual update .
1. Authorisations
NOTE
This section outlines the circumstances where managers have delegated authority to approve certain decisions.
These arrangements do not replace the line management communication or authorisation structure; in all cases, it is assumed that managers and line managers will be consulted or notified as appropriate.
Designated Managers are those managers who should additionally be consulted or notified.
- Adoption Panel Appointments
- Adoption Support
- Agency Decision Maker (Adoption)
- Approval for an Interim Exemption in an Emergency
- Approval to Exceed Upon Recommendation of Fostering Panel
- Birth Record Access
- Care Plans
- Care Proceedings
- Change of Name of a Looked After Child
- Complaints
- Contact with Parents/Siblings
- Foster Carer Allegations
- Foster Carer Approval
- Fostering Panel Chair
- HIV and AIDS
- Inter-Agency Placement
- Inter-Country Adoption
- Marriage of a Looked After Child
- Passports
- Pathway Plans/Leaving Care
- Permanence Plans – Adoption
- Permanence Plans – Fostering
- Placements Outside England and Wales
- Placements Outside the Authority
- Placements Secure Accommodation
- Placements with Parents – Planned
- Placements with Parents – Unplanned
- Placements with Relatives
- Residence Orders
- Review of Foster Carers
- School of Educational Trips/Holidays Abroad
- Secure Accommodation – Criteria – Reviews
- Special Guardianship Support
- Suspension/Termination of Contact
| Adoption Panel Appointments |
| See Adoption Panel Procedure
The manager who must authorise Adoption Panel appointments. Designated Manager(s) Assistant Director, Children's Services |
| Adoption Support |
| See Adoption Support Services Procedure and Placement for Adoption Procedure
The manager who must authorise Financial Support for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Plans, Counselling for extended families. Designated Manager(s) Team Manager, Permanence and Team Manager Adoption |
| Agency Decision Maker (Adoption) |
| See Assessment and Approval of Agency Adopters Procedure Adoption Support Services Procedure Placement for Adoption Procedure The manager who approves Adoption Panel recommendations in relation to children, prospective adopters and matching. Designated Manager(s) Assistant Director, Children's Services |
| Approval for an Interim Exemption in an Emergency |
| The manager who may approve an interim exemption.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Resources |
| Approval to Exceed Upon Recommendation of Fostering Panel |
| The manager who may approve the recommendations of the Fostering Panel to exceed the usual limit.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Resources |
| Birth Record Access |
| The person who all enquiries for access to birth records should be referred to.
Designated Manager(s) Team Manager, Initial Response Service based at the Quest initially and/or Customer Services Officer, Family Placement Service |
| Care Plans |
| The manager who must endorse and sign Care Plans in relation to Accommodated Children.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers, Initial Response, Assessment and Inclusion, Looked After Children |
| Care Proceedings |
| See Decision to Look After a Child Procedure and Care Plans Guidance
The manager who may authorise a Care Plan in relation to Care Proceedings. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
| Change of Name of a Looked After Child |
| See Change of Name of a Looked After Child Procedure
The manager who may authorise the taking of Court Proceedings where parental agreement is not forthcoming. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
| Complaints |
| The persons who should be informed of representation or complaints issues relation to a Child / Young Person and their carers.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager for the Service which a representation or complaints issue has been raised. Any complaints received must also be sent to the Customer Services Manager, Baytree House |
| Contact with Parents/Siblings |
| See Contacts with Parents and Siblings Procedure
The manager who may approve Risk Assessments in relation to Contact of Looked After Children with Parents Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
| Foster Carer Allegations |
| The manager who may authorise the recommendation of a Strategy Discussion that no further action is taken against a Foster Carer.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager - Children's Resources |
| Foster Carer Approval |
| See Fostering Panel Procedure, Foster Carer Variations Procedure Back Up Foster Carers Procedure Persons Disqualified from Fostering Procedure Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Procedure The manager who may approve the recommendations of the Fostering Panel (The Agency Decision Maker) Designated Manager(s) Strategic manager - Children's Resources |
| Fostering Panel Chair |
| To follow |
| HIV and AIDS |
| See HIV and AIDS Procedure
The manager who may authorise test for Looked After Children. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
| Inter-Agency Placement |
| See Placement for Adoption Procedure
The manager who must authorise Inter Agency Adoption Placements Designated Manager(s) Team Manager, Adoption |
| Inter-Country Adoption |
| See Assessment and Approval of Inter Country Adopters Procedure
The manager who must authorise Inter Country Adoption Placements. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Services |
| Marriage of a Looked After Child |
| See Marriage of a Looked After Child Procedure
The manager who may authorise the marriage of a Looked After Child. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers and/or the Assistant Director for Children's Services |
| Passports |
| See Day Trips and Holidays Within and Outside the UK Procedure
The manager who may authorise passports Designated Manager(s) (Written consent from) Strategic Managers and/or the Assistant Director for Children's Services. |
| Pathway Plans/Leaving Care |
| The manger who should approve Pathway Plans
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
| Permanence Plans – Adoption |
| The manager who can approve the recommendations of the Adoption Panel in relation to Permanence Plans.
Designated Manager(s) Assistant Director for Children's Services |
| Permanence Plans – Fostering |
| The manager who can approve the recommendations of the Fostering Panel in relation to Permanence Plans.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers - Children's Services |
| Placements Outside England and Wales |
| See Placements Outside England and Wales Procedure
The manager who may authorise the placement, including emigration, of a child outside England and Wales. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers and/or the Assistant Director for Children's Services |
| Placements Outside the Authority |
| See Placement Planning Meeting Procedure
The manager who can authorise out of authority placements of children (except Secure Accommodation). Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers - Children's Resources |
| Placements Secure Accommodation |
| See Placements in Secure Accommodation Procedure Secure Accommodation Reviews Guidance Secure Accommodation (Criteria Reviews) Authorising the placement of a child in secure accommodation, including placements up to 72 hours without a Court Order; Consulted where a Secure Accommodation Criteria Review Panel has recommended that the criteria for placement in Secure Accommodation no longer apply. Designated Manager(s) Authorisation Director of Social Care and Supported Housing. Strategic Manager Review and Child Protection |
| Placements with Parents – Planned |
| See Placement with Parents Procedure
The manager who may authorise such placements. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Services |
| Placements with Parents – Unplanned |
| See Placement with Parents Procedure
The manager who may authorise such placements. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Services |
| Placements with Relatives |
| See Placements with Friends and Relatives Procedure
The manager who may authorise such placements. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Services |
| Residence Orders |
| See Permanence Planning Guidance
The manager who can approve weekly living allowances in relation to children placed with relatives or friends under a Residence Order. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Resources |
| Review of Foster Carers |
| See Annual Review of Foster Carers Procedure
The officer responsible for completing Part C of the annual review, distributes the annual review consultation forms and chairs the review. Designated Manager(s) Co-ordinator - Foster Carer Reviews The manager who authorises the recommendations of the Panel and notifies foster carers of the outcome of the review. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager, Children's Resources The manager who verifies annual reviews that do not need to go to the Panel. Designated Manager(s) Review and Skill Level Board, chaired by Strategic manager - Children's Resources |
| School of Educational Trips/Holidays Abroad |
| See Day Trips and Holidays Within and Outside the UK Procedure
The manager who may authorise such trips for Looked After Children. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers and/or the Assistant Director for Children's Services |
| Secure Accommodation – Criteria – Reviews |
| See Secure Accommodation (Criteria Reviews)
Authorising the placement of a child in secure accommodation, including placements up to 72 hours without a Court Order; Consulted where a Secure Accommodation Criteria Review Panel has recommended that the criteria for placement in Secure Accommodation no longer apply. Designated Manager(s) Authorisation Director of Social Care & Supported Housing, Strategic Manager Review and Child Protection |
| Special Guardianship Support |
| Information to follow. |
| Suspension/Termination of Contact |
| Suspension or termination of contact between a Looked After child and Parents.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
2. Notifications
- Abduction or Attempted Abduction
- Attempted Suicide
- Death or Serious Injury of a Child in Need
- Missing Children
- Police Assistance
- Prostitution or Sexual Exploitation
- Protection of Children
- Section 47 Enquiry
- Serious Illness
- Serious Offence
- Serious/Malicious Damage
| Abduction or Attempted Abduction |
| The manager who should be notified about abduction or attempted abduction
Designated Manager(s) Assistant Director for Children's Services |
| Attempted Suicide |
| The manager who should be notified of the attempted suicide of a child receiving services.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager Review and Child Protection (on Behalf of Walsall Safeguarding Children Board Serious Case Review Panel) and the Assistant Director Children's Services |
| Death or Serious Injury of a Child in Need |
| See Death of or Serious Illness/Injury in relation to a Child in Need Procedure
If a child is looked after the Secretary of State, Regulatory Authority, Department of Education & Skills and Health Authority Cabinet Member should be notified. Designated Manager(s) Assistant Director for Children's Services |
| Missing Children |
| See Protocol for Children and Young People Missing from Home and Care
The manager who must be notified when a child is missing for 7+ days. Designated Manager(s) Children's Strategic Manager, who should notify/consult the Assistant Director. The Strategic Manager will also inform other Local Authorities where needed. |
| Police Assistance |
| See Contacting the Police Procedure
The manager who must be notified Where an Incident results in the police being called to provide assistance in a Foster Home. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers and/or the Assistant Director for Children's Services. It is also necessary to inform the Regulatory Authority |
| Prostitution or Sexual Exploitation |
| The manager who must be notified of Involvement or suspected involvement of a Looked After Child in prostitution or sexual exploitation.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager Review & Child Protection (on behalf of YPSE). Also, if child is placed in Children's or Foster Home, the Regulatory Authority and Police must be informed |
| Protection of Children |
| The people/agencies who must be notified of Referral to the Secretary of State under Sec 2 (1) (a) of the Protection of Children Act 1999 (a) of an individual working at in a Children's Home or a Foster Carer.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers and/or the Assistant Director for Children's Services. Also, if child is placed in Children's or Foster Home, the Regulatory Authority and Police must be informed |
| Section 47 Enquiry |
| See Countering Bullying Procedure
The manager who must be notified where a Child Protection allegation is made in relation to a member of staff or a child in receipt of service. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers. Also, if the child is placed in a Children's or Foster Home, the Regulatory Authority must be notified. |
| Serious Illness |
| The manager who must be notified or a serious illness or serious accident sustained by a Looked After Child.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Manager - Children's Resources. Also is the child is Looked After, the Regulatory Authority must be notified. The Health Authority must be notified if there is an outbreak of an infectious or notifiable disease. |
| Serious Offence |
| The manager who must be notified of allegations of a serious offence committed by a Looked After Child.
Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers |
| Serious/Malicious Damage |
| See Searching Children and their Belongings Procedure
The manager who must be notified where an incident results in serious damage being caused to a Children's Home or Foster Home. Designated Manager(s) Strategic Managers. If the Police are called for assistance, the Regulatory Authority must also be notified. |
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